Image processing system

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-229039, filed on Dec. 6, 2018. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present disclosure relates to an image processing system which includes a plurality of image processing devices connected through a network.

A technique has been proposed for an image processing system including a plurality of image processing devices connected through a network. In the image processing system, processing requests are processed by the image processing devices in a distributed manner. The entire image processing system including the image processing devices connected through the network functions as a cooperative processing system. The cooperative processing system processes processing requests by a user from a personal computer (PC) in a distributed manner.

An image processing system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an image processing device which is a reference device operated by an operator and an image processing device which is another device with a function not present in the reference device. The reference device and the other device are connected through a network. The reference device includes an operation section, a function collecting section, a function selection screen generating section, and a remote connection section. The operation section functions as a display section and an input section. The function collecting section sends a function list request to the other device connected to the network and receives a function list from the other device as a response. The function selection screen generating section generates a function selection screen including a function of the reference device and the function present only in the other device by comparing the function list received from the other device to a function list of the reference device and displays the function selection screen on the operation section. When the function present only in the other device is selected in the function selection screen, the remote connection section remotely connects the other device in which the selected function is present to the operation section of the reference device.

An image processing system according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes an image processing device which is a reference device operated by an operator and an image processing device which is another device with a function not present in the reference device. The reference device and the other device are connected through a network. The reference device includes an operation section, a function collecting section, a function selection screen generating section, and a reference device remote connection section. The operation section functions as a display section and an input section. The function collecting section sends a function list request to the other device connected to the network and receives a function list from the other device as a response. The function selection screen generating section generates a function selection screen including a function of the reference device and the function present only in the other device by comparing the function list received from the other device to a function list of the reference device and displays the function selection screen on the operation section. When a function which requires the operator to operate the other device is selected in the function selection screen, the reference device remote connection section sends various setting information of the reference device to the other device in which the selected function is present and remotely connects the other device to the operation section of the reference device. The other device includes an other device remote connection section. The other device remote connection section displays a movement message prompting operator movement to the other device in which the selected function is present on the operation section of the reference device and ends remote connection after the received various setting information of the reference device has been saved in storage of the other device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a display example of a function selection screen displayed by an operation section illustrated in FIG. 1 . The function selection screen is for selecting a file format of image data read by a scan function.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a display example of a function selection screen displayed by the operation section illustrated in FIG. 1 . The function selection screen is for selecting an image correction function when the scan function is performed.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram which describes a remote connection operation of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram which describes the first part of a setting transition operation of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram which describes the second part of the setting transition operation of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiment, elements indicating the same function are labeled with the same reference signs.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an image processing system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of image processing devices 10 connected through a network 50 such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet.

The image processing devices 10 are copiers or multifunction peripherals with a plurality of functions including a scan function. Referring to FIG. 1 , the image processing devices 10 each include a controller 11 , an operation section 12 , a document reading section 13 , storage 14 , an image processing section 15 , an image forming section 16 , and a communication section 17 . In FIG. 1 , an example is illustrated in which three image processing devices 10 are connected to the network 50 . The three image processing devices 10 are respectively assigned different device names (MFP 10 a , MFP 10 b , and MFP 10 c ).

Note that an image processing device 10 operated by an operator is referred to as a reference device, and the image processing devices 10 connected to the network 50 other than the reference device are referred to as other devices. In the following, MFP 10 a is described as the reference device, and the two devices MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c are described as other devices. Furthermore, an image processing device 10 with few functions is referred to as a low-function device, and an image processing device 10 with many functions is referred to as a high-function device. A low-function device is an old model or a low-cost model. A high-function device is a new model or a high-cost model.

MFP 10 a and MFP 10 c can select “JPEG”, “TIFF”, and “PDF” as a file format of an image read by the scan function. MFP 10 b can select “searchable PDF” in addition to “JPEG”, “TIFF”, and “PDF”. Accordingly, MFP 10 a and MFP 10 c are low-function devices and MFP 10 b is a high-function device with regard to the file format of an image read by the scan function.

MFP 10 a and MFP 10 b can set “background removal” as an image correction function for an image read by the scan function, and MFP 10 c can set “tilt correction” as an image correction function in addition to “background removal”. Accordingly, MFP 10 a and MFP 10 b are low-function devices and MFP 10 c is a high-function device with regard to the image correction function for an image read by the scan function.

The operation section 12 includes various operation keys including one or more of a touch panel, a numeric keypad, a reset key, a stop key, and a start key. The operation section 12 is a user interface which functions as a display section and an input section.

The document reading section 13 is a device which performs the scan function. The document reading section 13 is a scanner which irradiates a document with light and receives the light reflected from the document to read a document image. The document is fed by an unillustrated document feeder device or placed on a platen glass.

The storage 14 is a storage device such as semiconductor memory or a hard disk drive (HDD). The storage 14 stores therein either or both document data read by the document reading section 13 and document data received by the communication section 17 .

The image processing section 15 performs prescribed image processing on the document data. The image processing section 15 performs image processing such as enlargement and reduction processing, density adjustment, and gradation adjustment.

The image forming section 16 prints an image through image formation on paper. The image is formed based on image data read by the document reading section 13 , document data stored in the storage 14 , or document data received by the communication section 17 .

The communication section 17 has a function of sending and receiving various data between the reference device and the other devices over the network 50 .

The controller 11 is an information processor such as a microcomputer including elements such as a central processing unit (CPU), read-only memory (ROM), and random-access memory (RAM). A control program for performing operation control of an image processing device 10 is stored in the ROM. The CPU of the controller 11 performs overall control of the image processing device 10 by reading out the control program stored in the ROM and loading the control program in the RAM. The controller 11 of each image processing device 10 functions as a function collecting section 111 , a function selection screen generating section 112 , a remote connection section 113 , and a function assigning section 114 .

The function collecting section 111 of the reference device sends a function list request to the other devices connected to the network 50 and receives function lists from the other devices as a response. Upon receiving a function list request from another device through the network 50 , the function collecting section 111 sends a function list of the reference device to the other device as a response.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B , the function selection screen generating section 112 of the reference device generates a function selection screen including the functions of the reference device and functions that are present only in the other devices by comparing the function lists received from the other devices to the function list of the reference device. The function selection screen generating section 112 then displays the generated function selection screen on the operation section 12 . In the function selection screen, the functions present only in the other devices are displayed as distinguishable from the functions of the reference device. FIG. 2A illustrates a function selection screen for selecting the file format in MFP 10 a and MFP 10 b of image data read by the scan function. In the function selection screen, file formats of an image read by the scan function of the reference device are displayed, and “searchable PDF” which is a file format of a read image present only in MFP 10 b is additionally displayed in a distinguishable manner. Specifically, the color of text showing the file format of an image read by the scan function of the reference device differs from the color of text showing the file format of a read image present only in another device. FIG. 2B is a function selection screen for selecting an image correction function in MFP 10 a and MFP 10 b when the scan function is performed. In the function selection screen, the image correction function for an image read by the scan function of the reference device is displayed, and “tilt correction” which is an image correction function for an image read by the scan function present only in MFP 10 c is additionally displayed in a distinguishable manner. Specifically, the color of text showing the image correction function of the reference device differs from the color of text showing the image correction function present only in another device.

When a function present only in another device is selected in the function selection screen, the remote connection section 113 of the reference device remotely connects the other device in which the selected function is present to the operation section 12 of the reference device. As a result, the remote connection section 113 can operate the other device through the operation section 12 of the reference device.

In the performance of functions during the remote connection, the function assigning section 114 of the other device assigns functions to be performed by the reference device and functions to be performed by the other device.

Next, a remote connection operation is described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 . In the remote connection operation, image processing on image data read by the document reading section 13 of the reference device (MFP 10 a ) is performed by another device (MFP 10 b ).

The controller 11 of MFP 10 a functions as a function collecting section 111 . The function collecting section 111 of MFP 10 a sends a function list request to the other devices (MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c ) connected to the network 50 and receives function lists as a response (Step S 101 ).

Next, the controller 11 of MFP 10 a functions as a function selection screen generating section 112 . The function selection screen generating section 112 of MFP 10 a generates a function selection screen including the functions of the reference device and functions present only in the other devices by comparing the function lists received from the other devices to the function list of the reference device and displays the generated function selection screen on the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a (Step S 102 ).

In the function selection screen displayed by the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a , the controller 11 of MFP 10 a receives selection of an image processing function that is unperformable by MFP 10 a (Step S 103 ). As a result, the controller 11 of MFP 10 a functions as a remote connection section 113 and remotely connects to MFP 10 b which is capable of performing the selected image processing function (Step S 104 ). Due to the remote connection by the controller 11 of MFP 10 a , the display screen of the operation section 12 of MFP 10 b is displayed on the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a , and MFP 10 b becomes operable by the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a . For example, when the controller 11 of MFP 10 a has received selection of “searchable PDF” in the function selection screen illustrated in FIG. 2A , the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a is remotely connected to MFP 10 b which is capable of performing “searchable PDF”.

Next, the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 a sends various setting information of MFP 10 a to MFP 10 b (Step S 105 ). Through the above, the various setting information of MFP 10 a such as resolution and document size is reflected by MFP 10 b.

Next, when performance is instructed through a start key or the like in the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a (Step S 106 ), the controller 11 of MFP 10 b functions as a function assigning section 114 .

In the performance of functions set through the reference device (MFP 10 a ), the function assigning section 114 of MFP 10 b assigns functions to be performed by the reference device (MFP 10 a ) and functions to be performed by another device (MFP 10 b ) (Step S 107 ). Among functions set through the reference device, the function assigning section 114 of MFP 10 b assigns functions that are performable only by the other device to the other device. Then, with regard to functions which are performable by either the reference device or the other device, the function assigning section 114 of MFP 10 b assigns attended functions which require the operator to be present for performance to the reference device and assigns unattended functions which may be performed without the operator present to whichever of the reference device or the other device that performs the function performed directly before the unattended function. Note that at least one of the scan function through which a document set by the operator is read by the document reading section 13 and the printing function through which the operator receives printed matter printed through image formation by the image forming section 16 correspond to attended functions, and other functions correspond to unattended functions.

The following describes a configuration in which the reference device is provided with the scan function, the image processing function, and the printing function, and the function assigning section 114 of the other device assigns the scan function and the printing function to the reference device (MFP 10 a ), and assigns the image processing function to the other device (MFP 10 b ).

First, the function assigning section 114 of MFP 10 b instructs the document reading section 13 of the reference device (MFP 10 a ) to perform the scan function and notifies the reference device that a subsequent function is to be performed by the other device (MFP 10 b ). Through the above, in the reference device (MFP 10 a ), the document reading section 13 performs the scan function which acquires image data by reading the document set by the operator (Step S 108 ) and instructs the communication section 17 of MFP 10 a to send the acquired image data to the other device. Then, the communication section 17 of MFP 10 a sends the image data acquired by the document reading section 13 to the other device (MFP 10 b ) (Step S 109 ). Note that instead of the document reading section 13 instructing the communication section 17 to send, the communication section 17 of MFP 10 a may acquire the image data acquired by the document reading section 13 and send the image data to the other device.

Next, the function assigning section 114 of MFP 10 b instructs the image processing section 15 of the other device (MFP 10 b ) to perform the image processing function and notifies the image processing section 15 of MFP 10 b that the reference device (MFP 10 a ) is to perform a subsequent function. Through the above, the image processing section 15 of the other device (MFP 10 b ) performs the set image processing function on the acquired image data (Step S 110 ). Then, the communication section 17 of the other device sends the image data which has undergone image processing to the reference device (MFP 10 a ) (Step S 111 ).

Next, the function assigning section 114 of MFP 10 b instructs the image forming section 16 of the reference device (MFP 10 a ) to perform the printing function. Through the above, the image forming section 16 of the reference device (MFP 10 a ) performs the printing function of printing through image formation based on the received image data (Step S 112 ), and finishes the remote connection operation.

Note that when a sending function which is an unattended function has been set instead of the printing function which is an attended function, the sending function is assigned to the other device (MFP 10 b ) which performs the image processing function performed directly before the sending function among the reference device and the other device. In this case, the other device (MFP 10 b ) does not send the image data which has undergone the image processing in Step S 111 to the reference device (MFP 10 a ), but performs the sending process to send the image data which has undergone the image processing to a specified terminal device and finishes the remote connection operation.

Next, a setting transition operation performed when the scan function which is unperformable by the reference device (MFP 10 a ) has been set is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 .

The controller 11 of MFP 10 a functions as a function collecting section 111 , sends a function list request to the other devices (MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c ) connected to the network 50 , and receives function lists from the other devices as a response (Step S 201 ).

Next, the controller 11 of MFP 10 a functions as a function selection screen generating section 112 , generates a function selection screen including the functions of the reference device and functions present only in the other devices by comparing the function lists received from the other devices to the function list of the reference device, and displays the generated function selection screen on the operation section 12 (Step S 202 ).

In the function selection screen displayed by the operation section 12 of the reference device, MFP 10 a receives selection of a scan function which is unperformable by MFP 10 a (Step S 203 ). Next, the controller 11 of the reference device functions as a remote connection section 113 and remotely connects to MFP 10 c which is capable of performing the selected scan function (Step S 204 ). Through the remote connection by the remote connection section 113 of the reference device, the display screen of the operation section 12 of MFP 10 c is displayed by the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a and the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a becomes capable of operating MFP 10 c . For example, when the controller 11 of MFP 10 a has received selection of “tilt correction” which is performable only by another device in the function selection screen illustrated in FIG. 2B , the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a is remotely connected to MFP 10 c which is capable of performing “tilt correction”.

Next, the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 a sends various setting information of MFP 10 a to MFP 10 c (Step S 205 ). Through the above, the various setting information of MFP 10 a such as resolution and document size is reflected by MFP 10 c.

Next, the controller 11 of MFP 10 c functions as a remote connection section 113 and displays a movement message on the operation section 12 of the reference device (MFP 10 a ) to prompt the operator to move to the other device (MFP 10 c ) (Step S 206 ).

Then, the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 c confirms whether or not the operator is logged in with user information when operating MFP 10 a which is the reference device (Step S 207 ).

When it has been confirmed that the operator is logged into MFP 10 a with user information in Step S 207 , the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 c requests the user information of the operator from MFP 10 a . Through the above, the user information of the operator is sent from MFP 10 a to MFP 10 c (Step S 208 ).

Next, the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 c saves the received user information in association with the various setting information of MFP 10 a in the storage 14 of MFP 10 c (Step S 209 ), and ends the remote connection (Step S 210 ).

Next, when the operator moves from MFP 10 a to MFP 10 c and operates MFP 10 c to log in with user information (Step S 211 ), the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 c generates a function selection screen reflecting the various setting information of MFP 10 a saved in association with the user information and displays the function selection screen on the operation section 12 (Step S 212 ). Through the above, the operator can continue to use the settings of MFP 10 a without resetting MFP 10 c with the various settings of MFP 10 a.

When it has been confirmed that the operator is not logged in with user information in Step S 207 , the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 c generates an authentication ID (Step S 213 ) and displays the generated authentication ID on the operation section 12 of the reference device (MFP 10 a ) (Step S 214 ). The operator confirms the authentication ID displayed on the operation section 12 of the reference device.

Next, the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 c saves the generated authentication ID in association with the various setting information of MFP 10 a in the storage 14 of MFP 10 c (Step S 215 ), and ends the remote connection (Step S 216 ).

Next, when the operator moves from MFP 10 a to MFP 10 c and operates MFP 10 c to input the displayed authentication ID into the operation section 12 (Step S 217 ), the process moves to Step S 212 and the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 c generates a function selection screen reflecting the various setting information of MFP 10 a saved in association with the authentication ID and displays the function selection screen on the operation section 12 of MFP 10 c . Through the above, the operator can continue to use the settings of MFP 10 a without resetting MFP 10 c to the settings of MFP 10 a.

The image processing system according to the present embodiment as described above includes an image processing device 10 which is a reference device (MFP 10 a ) operated by an operator and image processing devices 10 which are other devices (MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c ) with functions not present in MFP 10 a . The reference device and the other devices are connected through a network 50 . MFP 10 a includes an operation section 12 , a function collecting section 111 , a function selection screen generating section 112 , and a remote connection section 113 . The operation section 12 functions as a display section and an input section. The function collecting section 111 sends a function list request to MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c connected to the network 50 and receives function lists from MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c as a response. The function selection screen generating section 112 generates a function selection screen including the functions of MFP 10 a and the functions present only in MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c by comparing the function list received from MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c to the function list of MFP 10 a and displays the function selection screen on the operation section 12 . When a function present only in MFP 10 b is selected in the function selection screen, the remote connection section 113 remotely connects MFP 10 b in which the selected function is present to the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a.

Through this configuration, functions not present in the reference device can be simply performed through another device (MFP 10 b ) using the operation section 12 of the reference device (MFP 10 a ) operated by the operator. Specifically, in a state where both low-function devices and high-function devices are connected to the same network, when a function present only in a high-function device is selected using the operation section 12 of a low-function device, the high-function device with the selected function is remotely connected to the operation section 12 of the low-function device. Accordingly, processing which cannot be performed by the low-function device can be simply performed through the high-function device.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, MFP 10 b includes a function assigning section 114 . In the performance of set functions during the remote connection, the function assigning section 114 assigns functions to be performed by MFP 10 a and functions to be performed by MFP 10 b . The function assigning section 114 assigns functions performable only by MFP 10 b to MFP 10 b . With regard to functions performable by either MFP 10 a or MFP 10 b , the function assigning section 114 assigns attended functions which require the operator to be present for performance to MFP 10 a and assigns unattended functions which may be performed without the operator present to whichever of MFP 10 a or MFP 10 b that performs the function performed directly before the unattended function. The attended functions include at least one of a scan function through which a document set by the operator is read by a document reading section 13 and a printing function through which the operator receives printed matter printed through image formation by an image forming section 16 .

Through this configuration, set functions can be effectively performed.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 a sends the various setting information of MFP 10 a to the remotely connected MFP 10 b and causes MFP 10 b to reflect the various setting information.

Through this configuration, convenience for a user can be increased because it is not necessary to repeat selection and setting of a function.

Another image processing system according to the present embodiment includes an image processing device 10 which is a reference device (MFP 10 a ) operated by an operator and image processing devices 10 which are other devices (MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c ) with functions not present in the reference device (MFP 10 a ). The reference device (MFP 10 a ) and the other devices (MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c ) are connected through a network 50 . MFP 10 a includes an operation section 12 , a function collecting section 111 , a function selection screen generating section 112 , and a reference device remote connection section (remote connection section 113 ). The operation section 12 functions as a display section and an input section. The function collecting section 111 sends a function list request to MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c connected to the network 50 and receives function lists from MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c as a response. The function selection screen generating section 112 generates a function selection screen including functions of MFP 10 a and functions present only in MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c by comparing the function lists received from MFP 10 b and MFP 10 c to the function list of MFP 10 a and displays the function selection screen on the operation section 12 . When a function which requires the operator to operate MFP 10 c is selected in the function selection screen, the reference device remote connection section sends various setting information of MFP 10 a to MFP 10 c in which the selected function is present and remotely connects MFP 10 c to the operation section of MFP 10 a . MFP 10 c includes an other device remote connection section (remote connection section 113 ). The other device remote connection section displays a movement message prompting operator movement to MFP 10 c on the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a and ends the remote connection after the received various setting information of MFP 10 a has been saved in storage 14 of MFP 10 c.

Through this configuration, the operator can continue to use the settings of MFP 10 a on MFP 10 c without resetting MFP 10 c to the same settings as MFP 10 a.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, when the operator is logged into MFP 10 a with user information, the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 a sends the user information of the operator to MFP 10 c in which the selected function is present. When the operator is logged into MFP 10 a with user information, the remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 c saves the received user information in association with the various setting information of MFP 10 a in the storage 14 of MFP 10 c . The remote connection section 113 of MFP 10 c generates an authentication ID, displays the generated authentication ID on the operation section 12 of MFP 10 a , and saves the generated authentication ID in association with the various setting information of MFP 10 a in the storage 14 of MFP 10 c.

Through this configuration, the settings of MFP 10 a can continue to be used upon the operator being authenticated by logging in with user information or inputting the authentication ID.

Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is clear that the embodiment may be appropriately altered within a scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure. Furthermore, aspects of the above elements of configuration, such as number, position, and shape, are not limited to the above embodiment. Any number, position, shape, or the like may be used to implement the present disclosure. Elements of configuration which are the same are labeled with the same reference signs in the drawings.